Elk Grove Village police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 12:18 PM Monday to a report of a crash in the parking lot of Miller Industrial/Hardware Supplies, 621 East Devon Avenue. Police and firefighter/paramedics received multiple reports related to the crash. First 9-1-1 call reported “two drivers” in the same vehicle were passed out at the intersection of Devon Avenue and Wood Dale Road/Tonne Road with a 1-year-old female infant in a car seat in the back seat. Next, Northwest Central Dispatch received a report that a crash occurred in the parking lot of Miller Industrial Hardware Supplies.

Elk Grove Village police have not issued a news release regarding the crash and would not comment, but witnesses have pieced together information about the crash. According to a collection of witnesses, a female driver and a male passenger were passed out in the front seat of a silver/beige Chevy Tahoe in the intersection of Devon and Wood Dale Road/Tonne Road. The male passenger apparently woke up in the front passenger seat and accidentally put the Tahoe in reverse while the female driver woke up and put her foot on the accelerator and/or took her foot off of the brake. The Tahoe proceeded in reverse eastbound on Devon and jumped the curb near Miller Ace Hardware about 80 yards away. The Tahoe went airborne and skimmed the hood of an unoccupied parked Ford Taurus. The impact ripped the hood off of the Taurus. The Tahoe then landed on top of the left front hood and windshield of a Ford Expedition — also unoccupied and parked in the Miller Ace Hardware lot. The crash pushed the Expedition into a Chevy Cavalier that was also unoccupied and parked. The Tahoe came to a rest on all four wheels.

Witnesses, employees at Miller Industrial and the male passenger went to work helping the unresponsive female driver out of the Tahoe and began CPR. A witness reported her lips were blue. As police and paramedics arrived within two minutes, paramedics went to work with Advanced Life Support. Witnesses or employees brought the infant to safety inside the Miller Industrial store.

The male passenger then headed for the bathroom in Miller Industrial and locked the door. The man was flushing the toilet and police caught up with him. A witness said that hypodermic needles were found near the bathroom. No word on whether he was caught in possession of any illegal substance. The man was transported to Alexian Brothers Medical Center with a police squad following.

Three ambulances responded to the scene. The third ambulance apparently responded for the infant. Witness reported the infant appeared to be uninjured.

At the time of this post, the Cook County Medical Examiner has no record of any fatalities from this crash. Other information and witness observations indicate that the female driver survived.

Elk Grove Police Department Accident Investigators were on the scene for about three hours after the crash.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS BREAKING NEWS --The Cardinal -- Arlingtoncardinal.com is a breaking news blog with Arlington Heights & Chicagoland emphasis. Early breaking reports may prove to be inaccurate after follow-up investigation, which may or may not be updated in The Cardinal -- Arlingtoncardinal.com. For in-depth coverage, please also check the following links for network television, cable news networks and Chicago local media coverage ...

SUBMIT CRIME TIPS ...
Anyone having information about serious crime in Arlington Heights should register on CitizenObserver.com and look for the anonymous TIP411 feature, or call Arlington Heights Crime Stoppers at 847-590-STOP (847-590-7867). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Not a resident of Arlington Heights? Check CitizenObserver.com for availability for your community.